Look for areas with job growth, population growth, and infrastructure development that can drive demand for real estate.Networking and Education: Connect with local real estate investors, agents, lenders, and other professionals to gain insights, knowledge, and potential investment opportunities.

I bought some pine sol and took care of it myself.

Did you work with any real estate professionals (agents, lenders, etc.) that you'd recommend to others?

One notable exception was an episode of HBO’s Silicon Valley, where the hapless Jared has tried for over a year to evict a nonpaying “professional tenant” who is currently subleasing Jared’s unit through Airbnb because California’s landlord/tenant laws are so biased in favor of the tenant that an eviction can take close to an eternity.

Any suggestions on how to connect with experienced investors or professionals?

They should have zero blemishes, if you provide dented/scratched appliances you are telling your tenant that you don’t care about the property and they should go ahead and dent/scratch your property. 

It's been taken care of.

By participating in forums, going to events, and organizing local meetups, you may build your network with other investors, mentors, and industry professionals.

So be sure to understand the process, the market, the risks, and don't let yourself simply be sold on returns.You can definitely be successful investing out of state, you just need to be more careful.

I think you should read the terms and conditions carefully before you commit to anything.